The performing arts include theatre, motion pictures, drama, comedy, music, opera, dance, acrobatics, magic, juggling, busking and the marching arts, such as brass bands, etc. Artists who participate in these arts are called performers, including actors, comedians, singers, dancers, and musicians.

Types of performing arts

The performing arts differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face and/or presence as a medium while the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some art object. Of course, most performance art also involves some form of plastic art, perhaps in the creation of props. Dance was often referred to as a plastic art during the Modern dance era.